This year's chanterelle season has been in full swing for six weeks now. "At the moment, we are mainly getting goods from Romania, but we also have Bosnian, Serbian and smaller quantities of Turkish chanterelles. However, the quality of the goods is not as good as it should be across the entire range," says Cleopatra Zwicknagl, managing director of the company of the same name based in Wackersdorf, Bavaria.
The company supplies both wholesalers in southern Germany and private customers via its own online shop. "Due to the Russia embargo, it has become almost impossible to import the popular chanterelles from the Russian collecting area of Kaluga. Instead, we helped ourselves to goods from Belarus and the Ukraine from the end of June last year. At the moment, however, these products are not yet available due to the drought," says the wild mushroom expert.
Chanterelles are mainly found in the wholesale trade in the well-established wooden crate.
Meanwhile, sales have been rather weak, which, according to Zwicknagl, is partly due to inflation and the resulting reduction in purchasing power. "Chanterelles are not necessarily part of the shopping basket, but rather a luxury item. A significant part of the goods also reaches the gastronomy via the wholesalers we supply. But you notice that the restaurants are still not that busy, which in turn affects the marketing of our chanterelles."
Nevertheless, the goods are offered at significantly lower prices compared to last year, Zwicknagl continues. "Prices are estimated to be 10 to 15 per cent below last year's level, which is also related to the weaker qualities. However, it has to be said that 2022 was a disastrous chanterelle year characterised by shortages. In this respect, we are still reasonably satisfied with sales so far and we must not complain at all."
Meanwhile, the mushroom saleswoman also offers porcini mushrooms from Eastern Europe and the Balkans. "Normally, porcini mushrooms are well received, especially in autumn, but at the moment some of them are selling better than chanterelles. Even in this category, however, high-quality goods are difficult to come by."
Another seasonal highlight of the company, he says, are wild mushrooms and fruits from the Bavarian wild collection. "We have already received the first, regional forest blueberries and they are offered to wholesalers as well as private buyers. In autumn, or from September onwards, we will also start with regional, exotic forest mushrooms such as autumn trumpets, chestnut mushrooms and red caps. My concern is to introduce the younger generation in particular to the unique taste of forest products from regional wild collection."
Further information:
Cleopatra Zwicknagl
Waldfrüchte Zwicknagl GmbH
Knappenstraße 2
DE- 92442 Wackersdorf
Tel: +49 94 31 88 19 - 445
Fax: +49 94 31 88 19 - 447
E-Mail: info@waldfruechte-zwicknagl.de
www.waldfruechte-zwicknagl.de